Studying? Revision, timing and techniques
To help you on your journey towards getting your CIM qualifications, the London region Board has sponsored a revision helpline with Student Support Group for members in the region.
When setting revision priorities, don’t forget that for CIM students who have not yet completed all four of the ‘old’ Certificate or Diploma subjects, and want to do so, time is running out fast! SSG can help you prepare for March and June 2015 Assignments & exams, after that you’ll be timed out of this option and have to start the new syllabus from scratch. SSG also support all of the new qualification subjects too!
Here’s the lowdown on the revision helpline, as well as pointers from SSG on how to identify your learning style and what mind mapping can do for you.
What is the revision helpline?
Provided by CIM study experts Student Support Group (SSG), the helpline is a web, email and telephone service you can use to get guidance on any aspect of your CIM studies.
Why you should use it?
It’s an invaluable CIM-specific source of practical advice, revision planning support, academic expertise, study tips and even moral support. You can do a diagnostic test, book an assignment support tutorial (usually conducted by telephone) and send draft work for expert tutor feedback (fees apply) or get help with specific parts of your course.
Who’s it for?
Members studying for any level of CIM subject (assignment or exam) including the Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma and the Diploma in Digital Marketing.
How to get help?
Visit www.studentsupportgroup.co.uk to get lots of free hints and tips, email queries to caroline@studentsupportgroup.co.uk or call 01784 463057. The SSG helpline has extended opening hours when you need them most, so during the six week run-up to CIM Assignment/exam deadlines in March & June, their office is open from 9am until 7pm every day. Much of the support and initial advice is provided free of charge. Fees apply for more in depth services and are advised in advance.
Find your preferred Learning Style?
Confucius supposedly said “Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Well the same goes for studying and revision. If you can pinpoint your learning ‘personality’ and adapt your approach to study and revision then preparing for assignments or exams will never seem like an uphill battle again. Discover your Learning Style by doing a quick free quiz at www.studentsupportgroup.co.uk/resources or email caroline@studentsupportgroup.co.uk.
Try mind mapping to get your CIM notes in order
Jon Twomey of Student Support Group is a big fan of mind maps. "Try mind maps at any stage in your studies. They’re especially good for those who are 'visual’ or ‘holistic' learners. Mind mapping won’t suit everyone but for many it’s a great way to tackle a new marketing topic, create personalised and memorable notes and to dissect CIM assignment briefs or exam questions."
Notes to aid understanding
Even if you happen to be a whizz at texting or shorthand, just copying down what you hear in lectures or what you read in text books is not the only way to take notes. Mind maps can help you start processing information while recording it. Lines, arrows and bubbles make you think conceptually which helps you make connections, linking ideas together in ways that may not have occurred to you if you were writing the more usual 'line-by-line' notes.
Testing your recall
If you’ve trying to remember a sprawling topic with multiple elements such as the Marketing Planning Cycle, or a Market Research Brief, get yourself a blank sheet of paper and sketch a quick mind map to see how much you’ve remembered. Cross-check it against your notes or text book to fill any gaps.
Memorising topics
Because completed mind maps show the 'shape' of a subject, the relative importance of individual points and the way one point relates to other, they can be extremely useful as recall tools. Simply scanning a mind map you’ve created previously can refresh a whole topic area in your mind quite quickly. Why not draw them out on pocket sized index cards or take photos of your mind maps on your phone for easy reference later. Either way they provide a refreshing and highly visual aid to revision.
Assignments & exams
CIM assessors remind students that the highest scoring submissions always manage to answer each and every part of the assignment task or exam question. To help you methodically dissect a complex or long brief, plan an outline to your answer by creating a rough mind map as you read through the question. It won’t necessarily tell you which order to address points in, but this should come to you more easily once you’ve created the map. Don’t forget to review the mind map at the end to check you covered off all the key points.
Further information
For more info’ about Mind Maps see CIM Marketing Expert. Login and search for Mind Maps.